Akamai Technologies, Inc. and AT&T today announced a strategic alliance to deliver a global suite of content delivery network (CDN) solutions to companies.

AT&T is combining Akamai?s content delivery platform with its IP network to deliver to companies asuite of global CDN and telecom solutions that will be jointly marketed, managed and supported by the two companies. The companies will initially focus their efforts in North America, with plans to expand globally within 12 months.

Under the terms of the agreement, Akamai will deploy CDN servers at the edge of AT&T's IP network and in AT&T facilities throughout the United States. With the deployment of Akamai's CDN infrastructure within AT&T?s network infrastructure, end customers are expected to benefit from more efficient content routing and better delivery of digital content, video and Web applications.

AT&T will transfer its existing CDN operations, customers and service to the Akamai platform in 2013.

The companies have also agreed to dedicate shared resources including technical support, customer care, marketing and professional services support.